Russia’s Putin, Iran’s Rouhani agree to cooperate closely on Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The presidents of Russia and Iran agreed on Monday to step up bilateral contacts, including over the Syrian conflict, in which both countries are allies of President Bashar al-Assad.
Azerbaijan says two of its servicemen killed in clashes with Armenian army
BAKU/YEREVAN (Reuters) – Two Azeri servicemen have been killed in border clashes with the Armenian army, Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said on Monday.
China official says Dalai Lama ‘making a fool’ of Buddhism
BEIJING/DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) – Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is “making a fool” of Tibetan Buddhism with suggestions he may not reincarnate, or reincarnate as something inappropriate, and the faithful are not buying it, a Chines…
Iran vows to pursue missile program despite new U.S. sanctions
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran will pursue its development of ballistic missiles despite the U.S. blacklisting of more Iranian companies linked to the program, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Monday.
Iraq’s parliament gives PM until Thursday on new cabinet amid unrest
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s parliament on Monday gave Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi three days to present a new non-party cabinet to fight corruption or potentially face a no-confidence vote amid street protests piling on the pressure for action.
Japan concerned at possible Russian base on disputed island chain
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has conveyed its concern to Moscow over possible Russian plans to build a naval base on a western Pacific island chain, part of which are claimed by Tokyo, a top Japanese government spokesman said on Monday, the latest in a long…
Turkish security forces kill more than 5,300 militants since July: Erdogan
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish security forces have killed 5,359 Kurdish militants since the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) abandoned a two-year ceasefire in July, the state-run Anadolu news agency cited President Tayyip Erdogan as saying on Monday.
Bangladesh dismisses case to drop Islam as state religion
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh’s High Court on Monday dismissed a case filed by a citizen’s group to drop Islam as the state religion, a lawyer said.
U.S. leads 14 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq, Syria: statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and its allies conducted 14 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, the coalition leading the operations said in a statement amid ongoing daily strikes against the militant group.
CIA boss Brennan visited Moscow in early March: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, John Brennan, visited Moscow at the start of March, Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov as saying on Monday.
